Sahih
Muslim

صحيح مسلم

18

The Book of Divorce

كتاب الطلاق

 

Chapter 4: Giving one's wife the choice does not count as a divorce, unless it is intended as such

باب بَيَانِ أَنَّ تَخْيِيرَ امْرَأَتِهِ لاَ يَكُونُ طَلاَقًا إِلاَّ بِالنِّيَّةِ ‏‏

Sahih Muslim 1477 b

Masruq reported

I do not mind if I give option to my wife (to get divorce) once, hundred times, or thousand times after (knowing it) that she has chosen me (and would never seek divorce). I asked 'A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) (about it) and she said: Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) gave us the option, but did it imply divorce? (It was in fact not a divorce; it is effective when women actually avail themselves of it.)

وَحَدَّثَنَاهُ أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ أَبِي، خَالِدٍ عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ، قَالَ مَا أُبَالِي خَيَّرْتُ امْرَأَتِي وَاحِدَةً أَوْ مِائَةً أَوْ أَلْفًا بَعْدَ أَنْ تَخْتَارَنِي وَلَقَدْ سَأَلْتُ عَائِشَةَ فَقَالَتْ قَدْ خَيَّرَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَفَكَانَ طَلاَقًا.

Grade: Sahih